Delaware Rep May Introduce Aid-in-Dying Bill

Delaware Rep. Paul Baumbach (D-Newark) is preparing a measure that would mirror Oregon’s 18-year-old “death with dignity” law. Since that law was enacted in October 1997, doctors have written lethal prescriptions for 1,327 patients and 859 have died from taking the drugs, including 105 last year. Baumbach has not introduced legislation, or circulated language broadly for co-sponsors. But he says Delawareans with a terminal illness, and six months or less to live according to a doctor, also should be allowed to take medicine that ends their life. Read full article.

David Wingate is an elder law attorney, who practices in Frederick and Montgomery Counties, Maryland. The elder law practice consists of wills, trusts, powers of attorneys, asset protection and Medicaid.